10 000 000 drachmai 1944
About This Note
This is a striking Greek 10,000,000 drachmai note from July 1944, issued during the final stages of World War II and the German occupation of Greece. The note is presented in AU condition, displaying pristine, uncirculated quality with crisp printing and no visible wear. The design is dominated by ornate geometric patterns, guilloche work, and decorative scrollwork in beige and brown tones, characteristic of high-security banknote design of the period, making it a notable example of Greek wartime currency.
Common. While this is a wartime emergency issue from occupied Greece during hyperinflation, the 10,000,000 drachmai denomination from this period was issued in substantial quantities to meet the urgent currency demands of the collapsing economy. No specific information suggests this Pick number had a limited print run or was recalled. The relatively straightforward serial number (0370171) and the AU condition grade, while desirable, do not indicate this is an uncommon variety. Wartime Greek drachmai notes of this era are regularly encountered in collector markets.
This note was issued on July 29, 1944, during the twilight of the Nazi occupation of Greece, mere weeks before the liberation of Athens in October 1944. The massive denomination of 10 million drachmai reflects the severe hyperinflation that gripped Greece during the occupation years, particularly 1943-1944, when the currency had become nearly worthless. The Bank of Greece issued this emergency currency as a stop-gap measure to address the economic crisis, making it a poignant artifact of Greece's darkest wartime period.
This banknote features a purely ornamental design without portraits or landmarks, relying entirely on sophisticated geometric and decorative elements for visual identity and security. The front displays large numerals '10' flanked by elaborate scrollwork and floral rosette motifs in the corners, with the Bank of Greece title prominently positioned at the top. The back presents a symmetrical composition with large ornate numerals '10' on both left and right sides, framed by complex guilloche patterns and fine geometric lattice work throughout the central field. The color scheme employs beige, tan, and brown tones with accents of mauve and burgundy, creating a dignified appearance typical of emergency wartime currency. The entire design emphasizes intricate line work and repetitive border patterns rather than figurative or architectural imagery.
FRONT SIDE: 'ΤΡΑΠΕΖΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ' (Bank of Greece) / 'ΔΡΑΧΜΑΙ' (Drachmas) / 'ΔΕΚΑ ΕΚΑΤΟΜΜΥΡΙΑ' (Ten Million) / Serial number: 0370171 / 'ΕΝ ΑΘΗΝΑΙΣ ΤΗ 29η ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ 1944' (In Athens on the 29th of July 1944). BACK SIDE: 'ΤΡΑΠΕΖΑ ΤΗΣ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ' (Bank of Greece) / 'ΕΚΑΤΟΜΜΥΡΙΑ' (Millions) / 'ΕΚΔΟΘΗ ΠΡΟΤΕΣ' (Issue declaration/proclamation).
This note was produced using intaglio/engraved printing, evidenced by the fine, crisp line work in the guilloche patterns, the sharp definition of the decorative scrollwork, and the dense geometric mesh designs visible throughout. The intaglio process was standard for high-security banknote production and would have been employed by the Bank of Greece's regular security printer. The precision of the ornamental designs and the lack of any visible registration issues suggest skilled engraving and printing execution despite wartime conditions.
This note is cataloged as Pick P-129b(1), indicating it is the first (primary) variety of the 'b' type of the 10,000,000 drachmai 1944 issue. The serial number 0370171 appears to be from an early printing range. No signatures are visible in the visual analysis, which is typical for emergency currency of this period. The issuing date of 29 July 1944 is consistent with the catalog attribution. Future examination should note any variations in serial number prefixes or printing dates, as different printing runs may have been produced in the final months before liberation.
